U.S. Senator. Prior to the Revolutionary War, he with his family and relatives were slave traders. During the Revolutionary War, he went to sea as a sailor on a private vessel, participated in several naval encounters and was captured twice by the British. After the war, he was selected as Captain of a ship and engaged in commercial ventures, including slave traders. Although Rhode Island outlawed slave trading in 1787, DeWolf and his family continued to finance and command slaving voyages to West Africa. Entering politics, he was a member of the Rhode Island State House of Representatives, (1797-1801, 1803-12, 17-21). He also fitted out a privateer in the War of 1812 and was one of the pioneers in cotton manufacturing. In 1821, he was elected as a Democratic Republican to the United States Senate a Senate, serving until 1825, when he resigned. He was elected again elected a member Rhode Island State House of Representatives in 1829 and served until his death at age 73. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)